The First True Test of New Albany's City Council

Time to be moving on to New Albany and their politics. Only fitting, don't you think, after last night's City Council meeting?

If you think you saw a BAD City Council meeting last night, we are here to tell you that you have not yet seen how it can (and I predict will) get UGLY. When Maury tells you on his blog he saw the "anger" on citizens and council member's faces -- he sure wasn't kidding was he?

Let us see, oh yes, I was moving into New Albany politics and how I got to the point I am at. Being new in town (even though one daughter lived with me and one in Okolona), I still joined my local Democrat party. Have to admit I haven't made it to the bowling league yet -- I got too caught up in the politics to have time for bowling.

Of all the cities, towns and states I have lived in and joined "my" local party, can't say I have ever had the feeling I had when I walked into the door of the Floyd County Democrat Party. I'm use to walking into the doors and being greeted enthusiastically and my voluntarism being of a premium service. Whatever I could do, the parties in the past would have me doing it. If it meant hanging door knockers on every door knob in a neighborhood to standing on a street corner for two days, to watching 8 TV's at one time to capture all of the political footage airing on local news channels, something.....

This feeling was different. I was looked at differently, if that makes any sense at all. At least, that's the way I felt. Who was this strange woman? What does she want? Are we sure we trust her? As my grandson would say, "something strange is going on here". These are only my feelings and not all had me feeling this way; but there was this certain little clique that kind of made you feel kind of "uneasy" about "things".

When Chuck Jones gave up the 3rd Precinct (whatever year that was), I was recommended to Mayor Warren Nash as a replacement. He graciously appointed me and I took great pride in being the 3rd Precinct Committee person; and can't tell you how much I learned. As an antidote, I'll share the following story with you, because I still marvel at how much I still have to learn.

This elderly gentleman came into the poll (this was when the Democrats were the Inspectors) and told me he wanted to vote just for the President and the Vice-President of the United States. He had been passed down from the Clerks and Judges to me, as the Inspector, to help him and try and understand what he wanted to do. When I asked to see his Voter Registration ID, he told me he didn't have to be REGISTERED to vote for the President and the Vice-President of the United States. Well, I got to thinking about all of different types of ballots they put in the Precinct committee Person (Inspector's) BIG black bag, and I realized I had seen some ballots that had only those Offices listed. After making a quick phone call to Linda Moeller, our Vice of the Floyd County Party at the time (and our workhorse), she informed me he was absolutely correct. Imagine that! Learn something new everyday!

Guess that's enough for tonight. I would like to add a thought about that meeting last night (and boy do I have a lot of 'em), but who or however it came about that Mr. Fifer admitted there was $5 million missing out of the sewers, I thank them. Everybody needed to know, especially the Council and of course the New Albany Potty Police! Peace.